Welcome aboard, Thom.

The ride I had today was flat, on pavement and just on two kilometers return. It was also the best one I've ever done.

One New Thing (to obsess over).

My program of "Taking it to the next level" (you know, IT) kicked off in rather fine style today. My ride had all of the following.

3 hours
My SS. (TWO Niner as an American chap I know refers to it as)
Lots of up
Wet Roots/trail litter/pine needles
Some rather nice down
Up and down together in one convenient package
Climbing through mist
Fugazi (see title of previous post)
Walking up very steep bits with my bike (however not too many, of which I am happy)
Mud/Muddy puddles of unknown depth
Blood. Mine (a rather pathetic-tacular low speed oopsie, attempting to remount my bike after slipping on some wet roots on Old Chevy
1x One Square Meal (on ride out of Longmile)
Arm Warmers (it was unseasonably cold)

I now feel very tough. And I am only sore if I move, stay still, sit, stand or lay prone. I have found a new thing to obsess over.. wait for it... Are my Ergo Grips level!! Hurrah!!!!! ( I twisted one out of alignment when I fell on my ass today). Next up, collapsing on the couch in front of the mesmerotron to watch Storm Surfers and mull over my return to work after four sweet days off. Joy.

Oh, Good. He's On Another One Of His Fugazi Jags...

And all the better you are for it, motherfuckers.

Shut The Door.

Riding was canned today in favour of A) an impromptu swim in the lake B) Spending time with my mother who is in town for the day and C) Helping cook dinner. I will go on a shop ride one day, I will. I will.
Tomorrow morning will be the go, methinks. Not really winding self up about not riding today. Who am I kidding? I'm totally wound up about not riding. Good old obsessive Pete, the most insecure pirate to ever worry his way across the seven seas. The riding I have been doing ( which has been a fair bit) has been awesome, but with some events coming up in the next few months which I wish to do, I feel I have to 'Take things to the next level" and by that I mean "just on par" vs my normal state of "distinctly sub par". whew, I could use a red bull..

In other news, I just wrote a letter. An important letter. Things are (hopefully) looking up.

These men have pretty much been on repeat on my rides of late. Helps going up and helps going down....

In Salute Of.....Stones Horsley

Stones Horsley came to town again today. And I (yet again) missed him. It was a combination of a massive ride yesterday, coupled with the first of four days off family jobs, errands and child minding/bonding/catching up with duties. Stones Horsley you say? yes. Stones motherfucking Horsley!!.

I first met Stones Horsley at what I now know to be the last junction on Roller Coaster, before it heads down to the Chinese Menu. I heard him before I ever saw him.It was race one of this year's Winter Series and I was sucking down some space goo and wondering when the white spots would fade from my vision, when this blond chap squeaks up on this great mid 90's full sus GT, and enquired if I had any panadol. "no, no I don't" I reasonably replied, Stones let me know that he had buggered his back, I do believe we rode together for a while, then having blown my load within the first 10km Stones dropped me.

Second race of the Series, Stones again. I was a lot more prepared and trained, Stones' back was still sore, We rode together for a considerably longer distance, and then I dropped him.

Third race of the series, Not prepared at all. Rode together for most of race, then three quarters through I yet again blew up and you guessed it, he dropped me. I finished just behind him, and through my haze of pain, took his number, because "This guy is alright".

He is more than alright. The man is a true hessian, and has STONES.

We caught up a few times before I moved and trained together.Stones punishes bikes (cracks frames, breaks shocks) and punishes himself, Stones did the Highlander, (which was the weekend that my family moved to vegas) with less training than I personally would be comfortable, and on an unfamiliar hard tail. He came to my house afterward with his lovely lady, a fixed beatific smile and drank cola and cramped uncontrollably in my living room.

Was this enough for Stones? no.

Stones did the Whaka. Myself at this point having decided that my training was way off and that I would go all out in the half century, I kept getting messages from Stones, saying 'oh, should be training more, commuting 12km to work..um". I was dying for him. Less patronism,more truly concerned friend. The weekend before the Whaka, when I was enjoying a leisurely tool around the hills with Von Krosch Stones was down here as well (didn't catch up with him then either) punishing himself doing Direct Road repeats. Stones.

This is the bit that kills me. I shake my head in disbelief at the man's fortitude.
Stones did the Whaka, and got cut off at, I believe, the 90km mark. He was routed through the finish and then, in high dudgeon (because quite rightfully Stones was over the 10km hr average) rode another 10km BACK OUT to where he got cut off and rode the ADDITIONAL 10KM THAT HE HAD BEEN PREVENTED FROM DOING BACK TO THE FINISH. Fuck me.

That night, 110km done, same house, same smile, less cramp, more dinners.

So, before he flys out to the Northern Hemisphere to Ski over Christmas, raise your glasses everyone to Stones. He has a quieter, newer and less cracked bike now, and just txt me a list of the trails he rode today (read, Half the forest). A more cheerful, resolute and inspiring riding buddy you'd never hope to meet.

Guilford Falls.

Flagging on the riding this morning, then saw these. See you later.

A higher class of establishment

So, it would appear that I'm all out of stuff to say on my own blog, and have reduced to a Bike Satan-esque pattern of just posting music clips. Put me on Someone else's blog however and holy shizzle, it's verbal diarrhoea!!!

I, oh. There it is, thought blocking. Jeez. Not much on the bike this week, as am working a 7 day stretch, with daily commutes to Taupo.

Here's an even more elegant mash note to Mr Weir. make's mine seem clumsy by comparison. I would also recommend staying and perusing Dicky's blog. He can ride the good goddamn out of a bike.

James Murphy continues to rule. Even from years ago. ESPECIALLY FROM YEARS AGO

Night Destroyer

Perfect Day.

Sick Day. Bought Thom his first real bike, Long ride on the SS and then a swim/dive at the blue lake. Save for the Melancholy on my part (long, hard year) a nearly perfect day.

Folk Implosion

I have come to realize that as a bass player I pretty much just ripped Lou Barlow off completely. No bad thing, I guess....

Sick Sick Sick

I'm sick and grumpy. Passed up the opportunity to ride today to rest. Rest. I know it's good for me, but now I'm regretting it. I do get uptight about these things though...Children also sick. Wife frustrated with same. mint.